Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that the safety and security of every Chinese citizen overseas is a concern for China. 

"For any bullying behavior that infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, China will never sit idly by and will spare no effort to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens and the justice of the world," Wang added.

Wang made the remarks at the 2018 Symposium on International Development and China's Diplomacy in Beijing on Tuesday.

On international situation, he mentioned the world is facing growing destabilizing and uncertain factors in 2018.

Guided by Xi Jinping's thought on China's diplomacy, we are committed to putting the guiding principles of the Congress (19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China) into practice, making new endeavors and achieving notable results, Wang noted.

In 2019, we will mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wang said, adding that the country will continue to deepen friendship and cooperation with countries across the world, and actively safeguard the regional and global peace and stability.

On Sino-U.S. relations, Wang said the two attracted the attention of the world and concerned the interests of all countries. 

Faced with the negative trend of trade frictions provoked by the U.S., China firmly defends national interests, national dignity and development rights, firmly upholds the rules-based multilateral trading system and firmly pursues a solution based on mutual respect along with an equal and candid dialogue. 

It has been 40 years since China and the U.S. issued the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations and this year also marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy. 

Wang said the ups and downs of the bilateral ties over the past 40 years have indicated that cooperation is beneficial to both sides, while confrontation is harmful to both sides as well. 

"If China and the U.S. cooperate, it will benefit both countries and the world. If China and the U.S. confront each other, there will be no winners and the whole world will suffer," he added.

China's 'six key steps'

China took six key steps in its 2018 diplomacy journey, Wang said, noting that the steps included expanding the nation's opening-up process, strengthening cooperation, maintaining steady progress, playing a leading role, taking responsibility, and safeguarding national interests.

Experts and former ambassadors said against the backdrop of protectionism and unilateralism, China supports globalization and aims to safeguard multilateralism.

"China is one of the emerging yet still developing economies. We want to not only enjoy ourselves with such achievements, but share these benefits with others," said Huang Ping, director of the Institute of European Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Su Ge, chairman of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, stressed that China will continue to open up to the outside world. "This is a set direction."

(CGTN's Su Yuting also contributed to the story.)